Are you thinking about gettin' your yard or garden (or patch of dirt) on for Spring? You might want to consider setting aside a corner for this cute willow wigwam. It's no secret that kids love to garden, and this is a fun family project. Plus, this is way cooler (and far more eco-friendly) than any of those ugly, plastic, snap-together playhouses.
My brother built one of these out of bamboo in his yard, only his is about 10 feet high and big enough for 3 or 4 kids to fit easily inside. He started with green bamboo poles that he buried in the ground then bent gently together to form the top of the teepee. As the bamboo dried it got more sturdy.
In the spring sweet peas and flowering vines cover the the structure making a green and shady haven. In the summer he grows squash and vine tomatoes on it, and his kids get a kick out of harvesting the vegetables that grow in and out of their "playhouse." In the winter, devoid of greenery, it serves as a reminder of fun times past and future.
No yard? Perhaps your local park or garden co-op would be willing to let you build one of these. You never know until you ask.
[photo: kiddley.com]
